Heavy Rains Hamper Spill Cleanup Work in River Valley

Joint Release from the City of Williams Lake, Williams Lake First Nation and the BC Ministry of Environment

Residents are encouraged to avoid the Spokey Hollow and Booga Wooga mountain bikes trails at this time, following a recent large landslide at the top of the River Valley, along the Tolko Road.

The City of Williams Lake, Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) and B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MOE) say the slope is unstable and unsafe for any activity. Spokey Hollow trail is fully closed and Booga Wooga is partially closed.

Meanwhile, despite heavy rains and higher water levels, crews continue to make excellent progress in cleaning up the spill in the River Valley. Treated effluent from the City of Williams Lake’s sanitary sewer lagoons is still flowing to the Fraser River. Although construction work has been slower over the past two weeks, due to excessive rain, Bridge 8, directly adjacent to the “AshTray” is now being installed, while bridges 6 and 7 are being armoured. Road improvements are also being completed as needed.

Emergency Operations Centre crews continue to develop a strategy to mitigate damage from the compromised sewer pipe, while also working on bolstering roads, bridges and unstable slopes damaged by the flood waters. Eight out of 14 damaged bridges have been reinstated. Work in the River Valley is expected to take a few more months to complete and the public is asked to continue to avoid the area at this time. Updates will be provided weekly by the Unified Command at the Emergency Operations Centre, involving the City of Williams Lake (COWL), WLFN and MOE.

Meanwhile, the City of Williams Lake remains in a State of Local Emergency. Nine properties on Frizzi Road also remain under an evacuation order.